Training In CBT & Other Evidence-Based Psychological Therapies
Introduction
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, commonly referred to as ARFID, was formally included as one of the feeding and eating disorders in DSM-5 in 2013, and subsequently included in ICD-11 in 2018. It remains therefore a relatively new diagnostic term, although the clinical presentations it includes are not new. The introduction of ARFID to the classification of mental disorders has been accompanied by a welcome move towards improving and increasing clinical service provision for individuals with this type of eating disorder, as well as significant research interest in all aspects of ARFID, including its development, epidemiology, clinical presentation, assessment, treatment and outcomes. Current national and international consensus guidance recommends multi-disciplinary, multi-modal treatment approaches, with a form of psychological intervention being the main treatment. As ARFID is a heterogeneous diagnostic category, a formulation-based, tailored approach is usually advised.
The event will be equivalent to 2 hrs of CPD.
Content
Given the variability in ARFID presentations and the fact that evidence from large-scale randomised controlled treatment trials is currently lacking, there can be understandable clinician uncertainty about how best to proceed. This workshop will include provision of a concise overview of current published evidence and knowledge relating to ARFID with the aim of increasing clinicians’ awareness and confidence in this area. Specifically, a key aim is to focus on evidence-based practice guidance for clinicians who are likely to encounter people with ARFID or ARFID-like eating behaviours in their practice. This will include discussing the rationale for a structured approach to clinical assessment which can deliver the information required to make a diagnosis of ARFID and to plan appropriate treatment, outlining the main components of assessment known to be of relevance, providing practical guidance on decision-making regarding the use of optimally targeted treatment and management interventions, and highlighting interventions currently showing most promise.
Learning Objectives
To understand the heterogeneous nature of ARFID presentations and the relevance of tailored approaches to intervention.
To understand the rationale for and main components of a structured approach to clinical assessment to be able plan appropriate treatment.
To develop confidence in decision making regarding the use of optimally targeted treatment and management interventions
To acquire up to date knowledge about the published literature on the nature and effectiveness of psychological interventions for ARFID.
Training Modalities
The workshop will include didactic content, anonymised case illustrations, chat function for experience sharing, and Q&A.
Key References
Lock J, Sadeh-Sharvit S, L’Insalata A. Feasibility of conducting a randomized clinical trial using family-based treatment for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. Int J Eat Disord. 2019;52(6):746–51.
Thomas JJ, Becker KR, Kuhnle MC, Jo JH, Harshman SG, Wons OB, et al. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: feasibility, acceptability, and proof-of-concept for children and adolescents. Int J Eat Disord. 2020;53(10):1636–46.
Bryant-Waugh R, Loomes R, Munuve A, Rhind C. Towards an evidence-based out-patient care pathway for children and young people with avoidant restrictive food intake disorder. J Beh and Cog Ther. 2021 31(1):15-26.
Thomas JJ, Becker KR, Breithaupt L, Murray HB, Jo JH, Kuhnle MC, et al. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for adults with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. J Behav Cogn Ther. 2021;31(1):47–55.
Archibald T, Bryant-Waugh R. Current evidence for avoidant restrictive food intake disorder: Implications for clinical practice and future directions. JCPP Adv. 2023 Apr 3;3(2):e12160.
Fonseca, N.K.O., Curtarelli, V.D., Bertoletti, J. et al. Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder: recent advances in neurobiology and treatment. J Eat Disord 12, 74 (2024).
About the presenter
Rachel Bryant-Waugh is a Clinical Psychologist with over 30 years’ experience working as clinician and researcher in the field of feeding and eating disorders. She has worked clinically with people across the lifespan in a range of settings, published widely, and delivered teaching and training nationally and internationally. Her current research interests include the development of standardised screening, assessment and outcome measures for ARFID; improving the early identification of eating disturbances; developing appropriately tailored, targeted interventions for ARFID; and developing programme-led, low intensity interventions for a range of presentations of eating difficulties and disorders. She has acted as Clinical and Training Lead for the NHS England national ARFID pilot and training programmes and served as a member of both the American Psychiatric Association and World Health Organization’s eating disorder workgroups for the revision of diagnostic criteria in DSM-5 and ICD-11 respectively. She is a recipient of the British Psychological Society’s May Davidson award for outstanding contribution to clinical psychology and recipient of the Academy for Eating Disorders Leadership Award for Clinical, Administrative or Educational Service.
Who should attend
This workshop is suitable for clinicians from a range of professional disciplines working in settings where people present with eating disturbances and eating disorders. This includes among others, psychological intervention practitioners working in primary care settings, school-based mental health practitioners, counsellors, nurse therapists, occupational therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and systemic therapists.